‘Masters of Sex’ recap: Virginia faces a bitter truth, as does Bill

While treating a patient for sexual dysfunction, researcher Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan) confronts a painful truth about herself on the “Story of My Life” episode of Showtime’s “Masters of Sex.”

Virginia’s revelation occurs as she struggles to help Barbara Sanderson (Betsy Brandt) overcome emotional problems stemming from incestuous acts with her brother.

By assuming Barbara’s identity during counseling sessions with Dr. Lloyd Madden (John Billingsley), Virginia hopes to glean useful psychotherapy techniques.

But Virginia touches on issues of her own when she takes an honest look at her lengthy sexual relationship with colleague Dr. William Masters (Michael Sheen).

“Have you ever withheld some truth about yourself because you feared someone’s judgment?” Lloyd asks.

Yes, Virginia admits. She lied to her boss, Dr. Lillian DePaul (Julianne Nicholson), about having sex with Bill, even though their encounters were supposedly in pursuit of scientific discovery.

Virginia initially denies that the sex is harming Bill’s marriage to Libby (Caitlin Fitzgerald). The union is safe, Virginia contends, for she has no intention of marrying Bill.

But then she considers Libby’s perspective. How would she feel about this obvious betrayal?

When Virginia meets Bill for their regular tryst, she’s sipping alcohol and stewing in her guilt.

“Does drinking help relieve your conscience about what it is we are doing here with each other?” she asks. “About what it is we are doing to Libby?”

“I can move ahead with certainty that I have never made a decision with the intention of hurting anyone,” Bill emphatically states. “We have a greater purpose,” he adds, referring to their groundbreaking study of human sexual response.

“It hasn’t been about the study for years, Bill,” Virginia insists. “We can’t pretend that there is any point to what we’re doing here beyond our own physical pleasure!”

Fumbling for a response, Bill says their encounters increase understanding of sexual disorders.

“Then tell me, Bill,” Virginia angrily says. “What sexual dysfunction are you proposing we treat?”

“Mine,” he meekly replies, acknowledging that he’s suffered from impotence since learning Virginia has other sex partners.

Also battling impotence is nerdy Lester Linden (Kevin Christy), who films volunteers engaging in sex acts at the Masters and Johnson Clinic. Bill hires a prostitute named Kitty (Erin Cummings) to help Lester with his condition, but he nervously resists.

“I’m offering you the chance to be a pioneer, like Wilbur Wright flying over the heads of the doubting French at Le Mans,” Bill says enthusiastically. “There’s history to be made here, Lester.”

Despite Kitty’s best efforts, however, Lester fails to become aroused. So rather than teaming with a professional in the future, Lester wants to work with a novice who also has sexual difficulties. Someone like Barbara, perhaps?

Finally, Bill confronts a painful truth of his own after hearing his younger brother Frank (Christian Borle) discuss their sadistic father at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Bill abruptly walks out because he’s already heard this tale of childhood trauma.

“I knew it because it’s my story,” Bill testily says, accusing Frank of being delusional due to years of binge drinking. After all, Frank was the apple of Dad’s eye while Bill was the whipping boy. That’s why Bill abandoned his family as a teenager.

But isn’t it possible that Frank replaced Bill as the abuse victim? Bill says that never could have happened. His emotions belie his words, however.

“Because if I thought that was possible, I never would have left you behind,” Bill says, tears filling his eyes.

“I’m healed, Bill,” Frank says reassuringly. “That’s what the truth does. You just have to be brave enough to face it.”